Clean Industry? Tourism development and household energy poverty

The promotion of tourism development and the eradication of energy poverty are essential for realizing sustainable development goals. However, little attention has been given to whether tourism development and energy poverty are in conflict with each other and thus they hinder the realization of the SDGs. This study examines the impact of tourism development on household energy poverty using data from the 2014-2020 China Household Tracking Survey. The results show that tourism development can significantly reduce household energy poverty, and there is a causal relationship. Meanwhile, in rural areas and areas with relatively low energy production, the effect of tourism development in alleviating household energy poverty is greater. In addition, tourism development can increase household income, improve energy utilization and promote urban green innovation, and thus it canaffect household energy poverty in terms of both household energy purchasing power and accessibility. The results of the study expand new perspectives on poverty reduction through tourism and provide policy recommendations on how to promote tourism development for the eradication of energy poverty.